1912, Nickel plated bronze. On the 13 April 1912 the war office set up the Royal Flying Corps, RFC, which was designated to fly aircraft for the army and on 1st July 1914 the Royal Naval Air Service, RNAS was set up to do the same for the navy. It was realized, after a short period, both services could not properly equip and used effectively the airpower they had been given. This led on 1st April 1918 to the amalgamation of these two services, RFC and RNAS, to form the Royal Air Force, RAF and also the Women's auxiliary Royal Air force.